MPs banned from consulting PM while session in progress

Speaker Anne Makinda has banned Members of the Parliament (MPs) from consulting the Prime Minister when a parliamentary session is in progress.

Makinda banned the MPs yesterday during a question-and-answer session.

During the announcement, Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Mustafa Mkullo was speaking to the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda.

However, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Co-ordination and Parliamentary Affairs) William Lukuvi and Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Relations and Coordination) Stephen Wassira defied the ban as they went to speak to PM after she had banned them to.

“It is a bad habit to consult the PM while the parliament is in progress. If the PM is preoccupied by consultations then it is better for him to see MPs in his office,” she said.

The Speaker said it was not proper to disturb the Prime Minister who was supposed to pay attention to MPs’ contributions.

“The main objective of the PM’s presence in the House is to listen to the questions, answers and contributions from MPs. So, if any MP wants to speak to him they should go to his office,” Makinda explained.

She said her announcement would be later be enforced by the Parliamentary Standing Orders.

Meanwhile, Temeke MP Abbas Mtemvu has said his followers should not be worried by accusations levelled against him by Dar es Salaam city mayor Didas Masaburi on the state owned transport company (UDA) since he is a clean person.

He said in 2009 the then Regional Administration and Local Governments Minister Celina Kombani had formed a commission to investigate the same problem and the report was compiled. However, he could not dwell on the report.